Event Calendar

Video Replay: Bridge the Gap

Date: August 4, 2008
Time: 8:00a.m.-5:00p.m.

What is Bridge the Gap (BTG)
Rule 402(c) of the South Carolina Appellate Court Rules sets forth the requirements for admission to practice law in South Carolina. Rule 402(c)(8) requires all South Carolina Bar applicants to successfully complete the Bridge The Gap program sponsored by the South Carolina Bar, under the directive of the South Carolina Supreme Court, prior to admission to practice law.

The Bridge The Gap program is a three-day (Monday-Wednesday) intensive course sanctioned by the South Carolina Supreme Court and coordinated by the SC Bar-CLE Division in conjunction with the University of South Carolina School of Law. The program focuses on practical nuts and bolts skills. It is designed to assist both the law student in transition from law school to the practice of law and the lawyer new to the practice of law in South Carolina.

Who Should Attend
All candidates for admission to the South Carolina Bar must complete the Bridge The Gap program as set out in Rule 402(c). Bridge The Gap registrants will include current second and third year law school students, law school graduates, attorneys licensed to practice in other states, and may include inactive members of the SC Bar seeking to return to active status.* Attorneys licensed and practicing in South Carolina are not eligible to receive CLE credit for Bridge The Gap unless they have received special permission from the S.C. Supreme Court Commission on CLE and Specialization. *An inactive member who has practiced law in South Carolina or another jurisdiction during the immediately prior twelve months may become an active member by paying the difference in license fees if that member is current with mandatory continuing legal educuation (MCLE) requirements. After the first twelve months an active member who has completed the equivalent of the mandatory continuing legal education requirement for the preceeding calendar year and who has filed a compliance statement with the Commmission on Continuing Legal Education and Specialization and paid the filing fee may become an active member upon payment of the difference in license fees.

Monday
Registration Begins at 8:00a.m.
Program Begins at 9:00a.m.

Tuesday & Wednesday
Registration Begins at 8:00a.m.
Program Begins at 8:30a.m.

IMPORTANT
Days two & three (Tuesday & Wednesday) of the program feature concurrent sessions during the afternoon segment.  Unless you are a licensed practitioner in another state or an inactive SC Bar Member and have been admitted to practice for at least five (5) years, you MUST attend one of the two sessions offered for each time period.  Please indicate on the following page the sessions you wish to attend.

Where Should I Stay
For those of you coming from out of town, the Courtyard by Marriott Columbia Downtown at USC is the most convenient hotel to the USC School of Law. For additional information or to make reservations, please call the hotel directly at (803) 799-7800. If you need information regarding other hotels in the area, please contact the Columbia Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau at (800) 264-4884.

Eligibility for Swearing In
The Supreme Court’s policy provides that an applicant will be eligible to be sworn in if the Office of Bar Admissions has received all required documentation ten days before the scheduled swearing-in ceremony.  An applicant who completes Bridge The Gap as his/her requirement for admission will be required to attend a swearing-in ceremony scheduled for the regular term of court, which is at least ten days after Bridge The Gap. In order to be eligible for the swearing-in, you must meet the following requirements:

1) You must complete all requirements for admission with the completion of Bridge The Gap.

2) The South Carolina Bar-CLE Division must certify your completion of Bridge The Gap.

3) You must be dressed in attire that would be appropriate for an appearance before the South Carolina Supreme Court.

4) You must be prepared to pay the required $50 fee. Checks should be made payable to the South Carolina Supreme Court.

Please direct all correspondence and questions regarding the swearing-in ceremony to the Office of Bar Admissions.

Office of Bar Admissions, Supreme Court of South Carolina, P. O. Box 11330, Columbia, SC 29211
Tel: (803) 734-1080 / Fax: (803) 734-0394

To register please click here

Event Type: Seminars